Castillo Monte Libano, Caracas, Venezuela
My friend invited me to join the IYC Community contest about PEACE. But a few days ago, I had already seen
's post calling for the contest, and I knew I wanted to participate. So I've spent a couple of days thinking about what peace symbol there is in Caracas that I could show. And I remembered one that for many in the city is not very well known. It is not in the historic center, nor a very busy area. But it is a monument to Peace and is known by the name of Castillo Monte Libano. So yesterday, I went to take some pics for my post.
It is a huge stone structure, which for many may seem an eccentricity. Aesthetically I don't love it, but it has great value because of the meaning behind its construction, which began in 1973. And it took almost thirty years to be completed. It has been built entirely with waste rocks and rubble from other constructions in the city. It is therefore considered an ecological monument too.
The idea for its construction came from a Lebanese who settled in Caracas in the 1950s. In the last century, Venezuela was a refuge and home for many immigrants from different parts of the world who were fleeing from wars or adverse circumstances in their countries of origin. Among these groups of immigrants came many Lebanese. There were also many Spanish, Portuguese, Italians, British, Germans, Argentinians, Colombians, Chileans, Armenians, and Hungarians, to name a few.
But back to the Lebanese, if I were to do the math, at least 5 of my schoolmates when I was a child were of Lebanese parents or had Lebanese grandparents. One of these former classmates is the daughter of Farid Mattar, who conceived the construction of this monument as a symbol of education for understanding and peace. His creator dreamed of a world at peace, without conflict of creeds.
On the monument in the same place are a cross, a Star of David, and an Islamic crescent to symbolize the coexistence of religions.
The big wall has seven columns with a bronze eagle at the end of each one, representing the human being, love, freedom, evolution, religion, peace, and perfection.
The monument is located on a small hill in a neighborhood of Caracas called Colinas de Bello Monte. Since the end of the last century, the monument was donated by the Mattar family to the municipality. It no longer has the former glory of its gardens and isn't illuminated at night like it was at some point in the past. But it still dominates the hill. It wasn't open when I went to take the photos, but the most striking thing about the place is its exterior.
The world could be better with more people thinking of living in coexistence and peace. In which our differences would be a reason to seek understanding, to learn from each other, and to look for our commonalities. I hope that such a world will one day be possible, even if I don't live enough to see it. I prefer not to lose hope that at some point in human history, it will become a reality.
This is my entry to IYC Community Contest 4 - PEACE. I would like to invite ,
,
, and everyone, who would like to spread messages of peace in Hive to join the initiative.
Thank you very much for reading.
All images and writing are my own unless otherwise stated.
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March 13, 2022